Castries: Persistent rain stopped the third and final one-day cricket international between West Indies and Sri Lanka with the match evenly poised.

The home team was 81 for two off 18.2 overs, chasing Sri Lanka's 257 for eight off 50, when showers swept across Beausejour Stadium and caused the abandonment of the match and a no result yesterday.

West Indies sealed the three-match series 2-0 following victories last Thursday and Saturday in Trinidad.

Opener Sewnarine Chattergoon topscored for West Indies with 46. Mahela Udawatte and Tillakaratne Dilshan hit half centuries to lead Sri Lanka's effort.

Opener Udawatte topscored with 73 off 121 balls to help contain an early wobble. Dilshan powered the late charge with 64 off 54 deliveries as West Indies conceded 78 runs off the last nine overs.

Chamara Kapugedara (40) and Kaushalya Weeraratne (41) supported well. Captain Chris Gayle led the home side with two for 41 off 10 overs before he tumbled in the field and limped off with a suspected groin strain.

Daren Powell took two for 50 on his 30th birthday while Dwayne Bravo claimed two for 67. West Indies began strongly after Gayle won his third straight toss and again inserted the Sri Lankans.

The visitors slumped to 44-3 after 12 overs with the seasoned trio of Kumar Sangakkara (1), captain Mahela Jayawardene (17)and Chamara Silva (6) back in the pavilion.

Sangakkara, promoted to open, gave Powell a birthday gift from his first delivery as he chipped to short extra cover off the leading edge.
Source : PTI